diff --git a/.changelog/9204.txt b/.changelog/9204.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..42789c358
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/9204.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+autopilot: Prevent panic when requesting the autopilot health immediately after a leader is elected.
+```
diff --git a/agent/consul/operator_autopilot_endpoint.go b/agent/consul/operator_autopilot_endpoint.go
index a15323161..2b122e522 100644
--- a/agent/consul/operator_autopilot_endpoint.go
+++ b/agent/consul/operator_autopilot_endpoint.go
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ func (op *Operator) ServerHealth(args *structs.DCSpecificRequest, reply *structs
 
 	state := op.srv.autopilot.GetState()
 
+	if state == nil {
+		// this behavior seems odd but its functionally equivalent to 1.8.5 where if
+		// autopilot didn't have a health reply yet it would just return no error
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	health := structs.AutopilotHealthReply{
 		Healthy:          state.Healthy,
 		FailureTolerance: state.FailureTolerance,